Antiaccidental ignition means for match packages



Dec. 6, 1938. F, STElNER 2,139,388

ANTiACCIDENTAL IGNITION MEANS FOR MATCH PACKAGES Filed Sept. 5, 1935 ATTORNEYS Patented 6, 1938 PATENT GFFiCE ANTIACCIDENTAL IGNITION MEANS FOR MATCH PACKAGES 1 Frank G. Steiner, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Steiner Sales Company, Salt Lake City, Utah, a corporation of Utah Application September 5, 1935, Serial No. 39,309

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in match packages of the tear-off type, commonly distributed at cigar counters, and composed of a pad or book of paper matches enclosed by a suitable cover.

It is well known that accidents occur as a result of ignition of the matches, following the striking of a match on the abrasive material provided on the small flap of the cover; even explosions and serious burns have resulted.

The ordinary tear-off safety match package is composed of what may be called a book of sheets (generally two) each composed of paper matches held by one end and conditioned to be easily torn off one by one. This book or pad is enclosed by a cover ordinarily comprising a back and two front flaps, one short flap through which a staple passes to secure the matches to the cover, and the other a longer flap which is detachably tucked under the short flap, leaving the scratch surface on the outer face of the short flap exposed.

Ordinarily a person will pull the long flap from underneath the short flap and lay it back so that the heads of the matches are exposed. Theperson will then tear on a match and, with the long flap thrown back, scratch the match on the scratch surface of the short flap. In doing this, sparks fly and frequently ignite the other matches resulting in explosion and rather frequently in extensive burns of hand and/ or face.

It is a main object of this invention to prevent ignition by flying sparks, by providing means by which the heads are permanently covered, and by further providing means giving access to the matches for removal while the covering means remains in covering or protecting position.

Features of the invention include all new details of construction and combinations shown, along with the broader ideas of means inherent in the disclosure.

Objects, features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description of the drawing forming a. part of this application, and in said drawing Figure l is a front face view of a package il- .lustrating one form of the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the structured Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a face view of another form of the invention;

Figure 5 is a side view of the structure of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a side view of a third modification; and

Figure '7 is a side view of a fourth modification.

In that form of the invention shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, numeral 1 generally indicates the pad or book of paper matches having the base 2. The back of the cover is indicated at 3 and the front of the cover comprises (in this embodiment) two short flaps, top and bottom, respectively indicated at 4 and 5. The top flap 4 forms a kind of a hood which protectingly covers the heads of the matches 6, and one side of this flap is permanently secured as at l by a staple to the back 3.

A staple 8 secures the match book base 2 between the lower front flap 5 and the back 3. The use of short flaps leaves an opening 9 entirely across the front of the package. The flap 5 has on its outer face the usual striking material 10.

When the package is held in one hand, the fingers of the other can be inserted in the opening for removal of the matches. The hood adequately prevents entrance of sparks to the heads.

In Figures 4 and 5 has been illustrated another modification in which the cover back is also indicated by numeral 3. In this case the upper flap l I is long enough to be attached to the short flap 5. The staple B secures the match book base 2 between the cover back and lower flap 5 and the bottom of the top flap is tucked beneath the top of the bottom flap as indicated at 42 and is permanently secured by adhesive or other fastening means, indicated at 53. In this manner the match head cannot be exposed by turning back flap II. The long front flap and the back of the cover each have a cut-out, said cut-outs being respectively indicated at -15. These cut-outs are of course opposed and provide means allowing introduction of the fingers to remove the matches while the flaps remain connected and therefore while the top flap 1 I is in match head protecting position. Suflicient material I1 is provided between the end of the slot or openings I l and I5 and the adjacent edge of the long flap to give the required strength.

It will be understood that the invention may be applied to the ordinary tear-off match package without substantial modification, that is that the ordinary package may be used as a. basis since the cover may be stamped out and attached to the base of the match sheets just as it has heretofore been attached. In the form of Figures 1 and 2, the only modifications are the change in the overall length of the cover and the provision of short flaps, and the use of an extra staple I placed as shown. In the modifications of Figures 3 and 4, the change is merely stamping out of the slots I5 back of the flap to gain access to the stems.

The same remarks apply to the forms of Figures 4 and 5, wherein the flaps are adhesively or otherwise secured together,'the arrangement however exposing the match stems for engagement at opr posite sides by the finger.

Burns resultant from the use of the ordinary match books have been so frequent that it is now customary to warn the user to again insert the long flap beneath the short one, before striking the match on the material of the short flap.

In Figure 6, another modification is, shown in which the package is constructed as in Figure 5, but in which the striking material III is placed on the back of the cover near the bottom, instead of on the short flap. In using this form of the device; the front flap is thrown back in the usual manner, a match is removed, and then. with the front flap either opened or closed, the package is reversed to bring the match-striking material into position for striking. Directions for reversing (not shown) may be placed on the short flap at a position corresponding to that heretofore used for the .scratch material.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 7, the long and short flaps are secured together as at 2| and in a manner similar to the indicated at I! in Figure 5, and the back adjacent the top is severed as at 22. After severing, the bent material may be brought downwardly slightly, to out-' wardly overlap the back as shown at 23. In this instance, the front or long flap is pulled toward the user, the match is removed, the flap is then automatically returned to its protectiveposition shown in the figure (due to resiliency of the paper cover) and then the match may be struck on the scratching material 24 which occupies the usual position on the short bottom flap.

In all forms of my invention the parts are so related that the match heads are always protectingly covered, either as a result of a A certain necessary manipulation such as reversal, or constantly, or by means which moves automatically to covering position, after being pulled from that position by the user for the purpose of tearing off a match. The match heads are therefore always covered when the match is scratched on the scratch material carried by the package. I therefore broadly claim as new the ideas of means by which protection is obtained against accidental ignition of the match supply as a result of striking, except that means well known before my invention, to-wit: the tucking of the long flap beneath the shorter flap by the user, preparatory to striking. If it were not for the fact that users of these matches do not ordinarily return the long flap to a protecting position, there would be no need for the present invention.

The features also claimed are: tear-off without motion of any part of the cover; the opening of a part of the, cover to give access for tearing oil; and reversal of the package to make the scratch material available, thus assuring that a portion of the cover be interposed between the striking material and the match heads; and the pulling back of part of the cover and its automatic return to covering position, before scratching. In no other structure known to me and of thegeneral type treated of herein is any means provided requiring manipulation for the purpose herein.

I claim as my invention:

1. A safety match package of the tear-off type comprising a pad of matches and a cover including a back and long and short front flaps, means securing the flaps to one another, the back and long front flap of the cover being cut out to provide for the simultaneous introduction of the fingers from opposite sides 'for removal of the matches.

2. A match book comprising a card of matches each projecting and separable from a common base, a cover extending about the head ends of the matches and extending down the back and front sides of the match card to the base, means for securing the base and cover together to hold the cover permanently closed and the base immovable with respect tothe cover, the cover having a slot extending inwardly from a free edge, and between the tips and base, of a length to expose a plurality of matches, and of a width to permit insertion of a finger to engage and bend outward from beneath the cover, for separation from the base, a match thus exposed.

FRANK G. STERTER. 

